Handle-block for cloth-cutting machines



W. J. MARSHALL. HANDLE BLOCK FOR CLOTH CUTTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED lULY 1,1919.

Patented Mar. 22

4/41 M I 553% 11 15 61 5 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. MARSHALL, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO K. MAI INC., A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MIN 00.,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

Application filed July 1, 1919. Serial No. 307,937.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. MARSHALL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Handle-Blocks for Cloth-Cutting Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to cloth, cutting machines and more particularly to what may be termed a handle-block forsuch machines, that is, a member to which the handle of the machine may be attached and which also serves as a support for other parts of the machine. it i In cloth cutting machines of the type in which a reciprocating knife is mounted in a slot in the standard of the machine, it is the usual practice to mount the casing which carries the driving motor and the mechanism by which it is connected to the knife, directly on the standard of the machine. In machines constructed in this manner, there is a tendency for the casing to become displaced with respect to the standard. The knife fits closely within the standard, so that even a slight displacement of thecasing with respectto the standard may result in a binding action between the knife and the standard, and the knife may even be broken as a result of the friction and the high speed at which itis reciprocated by the motor. i

In addition to the possibility of displace ment between the casing of a machine and its standard, prior machines have possessed the serious defect that the handles are mounted upon members whichfare usually bolted or otherwise attached to themachines in such a manner that they-become loosened during usage.- Upon lifting amachine in which the handle has become loosened, the machine usually has atendency to tip over, which is accentuated by the relatively heavy parts of the machine that are mounted above the handle. The sudden tipping tendency of the machine causes the operator to instinctively grasp the machine, as he thinks that it is about to fall, and in some cases thehandle may-be so loosened that the machine will become detachedand fall on the floor with serious injury to the machine and perhaps even to the operator. An operator is most likely to lift the machine when he is changing it between different cutting oper ations, and at such times the knife guard and presser foot mechanism usually provided on machines of this type, are in clevatedposition, so that the knife is exposed, and the operator, when suddenly grasping the ma chine, thinking that it is about to fall, may beseriously cut by the exposed edge of the knife. In addition to the danger of accidents that may result from a loosening of the handle of a machine, such a condition of the apparatus also prevents the machine from being accurately guided during the operation of cutting material, and furthermore time is required to tighten the handle, which might otherwise be employed in useful work.

It is an object of this invention to overcome the defects of prior machinesby providing a member which may be so attached to the top of the standard that there is no possibility of displacement between it and the standard, and upon which the motor casing of the machine may be so mounted that there is also no possibility of displace ment between it and the member, whereby the danger of the knife becoming displaced with respect to the slot in the standard is effectively prevented. The construction thus provides a means for maintaining at all times a true relationship between the parts of the machine when in assembled condition.

The member upon which the casing is mounted is also providedwith a shank to which the handle of the machine may be attached in such a manner that there is no possibility of the handle becoming loose. The use ofa machine provided with theimprovement is attended with a greater degree of safety, and the machine may be operated with a higher degree of accuracy than can machines of the usual construction, inwhich there is a tendency for the handle to become loosened during usage. v The objects of the invention are attained by the use of a member or handle iblock adapted to be detachably but firmly secured to the top of the standard of the ma chine, and which has a vertical shank adapted to fit within a correspondingly shaped slot in the casing of the apparatus insuch a manner that there is no possibility of displacement between the casing and the member. The member is preferably formed as a single forging and, in addition to the vertical shank, is also provided with a horiz ontal shank to which the .handle may be attached in such a manner that it will not become loose.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cloth cutting machine of well known type, the parts comprising'the invention being shown in cross-section for clearness; Fig. 2 is a transverse section, along the line 2 2 of Fig. l, of the parts of the machine that are shown in cross-section in the lastnamed. figure; and Fig. 3 isa view of the supporting member or handle block of the invention.

In the drawings in which similar reference characters denote similar parts throughout the several views, 10 is the base plate of the machine and 11 is the standard having a slotted edge within which the reciprocating knife 12 is mounted. The top of the'standard is extended sidewise and rearwardly as at 13 .to form a base or shelf to. which the handle block 14: is attached.

This handle block, which is shown detached from the. machine in Fig. 3, comprises a one-piece forging, having a flat base portion 15 of substantially the same shape as the base or shelf at the top of the standard. The front edge of this portion of the block is cut away as at 16 to allow for the passage of the knife when the block is in place. The base portion of the block is provided with holes 17 for screws 18, by which themember is clamped to the top of the standard. In the embodiment shown provision is made-for three screws disposed as indicated most clearly in Fig. 2. This disposition of the screws prevents any displacement between the handle block and the shelf of the standard to which it is attached, but it will be understood that any other number of 'screws'may be used and that they maybe. disposed in any other relationship- Extending upwardlyfrom the base of the handle block'near its front edge and preferably formed integrally therewith is a shank 19, preferablyof rectangular crosssection and provided with bolt holes 20. The casing 21 of the-machine, which in- .closesthe driving motor and the connections between the latter and the knife, and upon which isimounted the usual knife guard and-stripper foot members 22, has a depending portion 23 the lower end of which is... of substantially the same shape as the base of the handle. blockupon which it rests. The front of the portion 23 is providedwith aslot 24 of the same shape as theshank 19 of the handle block, so that when the parts are fitted together there is no'possibilityof displacement between the casing and the block. The casing is held securely upon the block by means of bolts 25 passing through the holes 26 in the You tical shank of the block and corresponding holes in the depending portion of the easing.

The base portion of the handle block is formed with an integral tapering extension 26 which terminates in an integral horizon tal cylindrical shank 27 to which a handle 28 may be securely attached, as by means of a pin 29 passing through a hole 31 in the extension 26. The handle should preferably be driven onto the shank 27 so that its front end is forced firmly into engagement with a part of the tapering portion 26, thereby increasing the firmness with which the handle is held in place and aiding the pin in preventing any rotation of the handle. A spacing member 31 surrounds the tapering portion 26 and fills up the space between the end of the handle and the rear edge of the base portion of the block.

While the structure of the handle block is such that all of the parts of the machine may be securely held in place without any possibility of displacement or tendency for the handle to become loosened. the construction is at the same time one that permits the machine to be easily taken apart or assembled, as occasion may require. By the provision of the rectangular vertical shank on' the block and the cooperating slot in the casing, these two parts always fit together in the same manner. and since the block can be attached to the standard of the machine in only one way. due to the arrangement of the screws, there is no chance of the machine being incorrectly assembled. and when it is assembled the knife will be in correct alinement with respect to the slot in the standard. It is intended that the handle shall be permanently attached to the block and need never be removed, except in case of unusual accident, but in such cases it will probably be found in practice. easier to apply a new block to the machine instead of attempting to repair the handle.

I claim:

In a cloth cutting machine of the kind described. the combination of a standard having its top extended sidewise and rear ward'to form a shelf. a member having a flat base portion of substantially the same shape as the shelf and secured thereto, said base portion being provided at its rear edge with a tapering extension terminating in a cylindrical shank. said member having an integral rectangular shank extending perpendicular to the'base portion near its front edge, the part of the base portion lying between its front edge and the front face of the shank being provided with a slot. a

handle immovably mounted upon the cylindrical shank and the tapering extension, a casing provided with a depending portion having its lower end of substantially the same shape as the base portion of the member and resting thereon, said depending portion being provided at its front With a rectangular slot adapted to receive the rectangular shank, means passing through the de pending portion of the casing and the rectangular shank for holding the casing in place, a knife slidably mounted in the standard and passing through the slot in the front of the base portion, and means in the casing for reciprocating the knife.

In testimon whereof I affix my si nature. 15

ILLIAM J. MARS. ALL. 

